How to Bring Parents to Germany: Family Reunification and Other Options

How to Bring Parents to Germany

Moving parents to Germany to join their adult children is possible, but it is usually not a simple family procedure. It is a complex immigration matter. For the parents of an adult foreign national, the basic rule remains strict: family reunification is allowed primarily when refusing entry would lead to an exceptionally severe hardship — außergewöhnliche Härte.

Since 2024, a separate easing has existed for some new Fachkräfte, Blue Card EU holders, and other qualified migrants. It does not remove the need to prove income, housing, health insurance, and documents, but in some cases it allows parents or parents-in-law to come without the classic requirement of proving extraordinary hardship.

Reunification of adult children with parents under §36 AufenthG

For the parents of an adult foreign national, the key provision is §36 AufenthG. In a normal situation, the foreigners authority treats parents as “other family members,” not as part of the core family alongside a spouse and minor children.

The meaning of §36(2) AufenthG is that a residence permit for other relatives may be issued if it is necessary to prevent außergewöhnliche Härte. In practice, this means an individual assessment rather than an automatic right to move.

If the child has already obtained German citizenship, the situation does not automatically become easier. Family reunification with German citizens is governed by §28 AufenthG, but for the parents of an adult child the issue still usually comes down to the criteria of §36 and proof of exceptional hardship.

What counts as außergewöhnliche Härte

The law does not provide an exhaustive list of situations. The authority assesses the specific circumstances of the family: the parent’s health, the availability of care in the country of residence, the ability to get help locally, dependence on the child in Germany, and the real ability of the host family to provide care.

Usually, it is not enough to point to loneliness, a low standard of living, or the political or economic situation in the country of origin. A personal family situation is required in which living apart creates disproportionately severe consequences.

A more convincing example is this: a mother or father needs constant care because of age, illness, or disability, and there are effectively no other close relatives or accessible care systems. But even in that situation, you still need to show why moving to Germany solves the problem rather than merely describing it.

What the Ausländerbehörde checks

Even if the authority is willing to consider außergewöhnliche Härte, the family still has to prove that the move is practically feasible.

They usually check:

sufficient and stable income on the part of the host;
suitable living space;
no dependence on social benefits such as Bürgergeld or basic income support;
a care plan for the parent if the case is based on illness or helplessness;
health insurance valid in Germany;
documents confirming the family relationship, health condition, family situation, and financial support.

If the host family itself depends on social assistance, the chances of moving the parents decrease sharply. The authority must see that the parent will not become an unpredictable financial burden on the state.

Health insurance for parents

Health insurance often becomes the main practical obstacle. Germany has a mandatory Krankenversicherung requirement, but the parents of an adult insured child cannot be included in family health insurance in the GKV free of charge. Family insurance in the public system usually applies to a spouse and children if the conditions are met, but not to parents.

For an older person who was not previously insured in Germany, entering the system can be difficult. Different scenarios are possible:

temporary incoming insurance for the visa and entry;
private health insurance;
a Basistarif in private insurance, if the access conditions are met;
public health insurance if an independent basis for GKV arises, for example through employment subject to mandatory social insurance.

The older the parent and the more serious the medical risks, the more important it is to obtain written confirmation of the insurance solution in advance. Verbal promises from intermediaries or general calculators do not replace a policy that the consulate and the Ausländerbehörde will accept.

Basistarif in private insurance

The Basistarif is a statutorily regulated basic tariff in private health insurance. Under §152 VAG, its premium may not exceed the maximum premium in the GKV, and the scope of benefits must be comparable to statutory insurance.

For 2026, the relevant GKV benchmark is this: the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze for health insurance is 5,812.50 euros per month, the general Beitragssatz is 14.6%, and the average Zusatzbeitrag is 2.9%. That is why the Basistarif can still be expensive even with the legal cap. Pflegeversicherung is considered separately if it is required in the specific configuration.

Important: entitlement to the Basistarif and its actual issuance depend on the person’s status, documents, and insurance history. For the visa process, an incoming insurance policy is often needed first, while the long-term solution is arranged only after entry, registration, and obtaining a suitable residence basis.

The new rule for parents of Fachkräfte since 2024

Since March 1, 2024, §36 AufenthG has included a separate option for parents and, under additional conditions, parents-in-law. It applies to a foreign national who was granted for the first time after that date a Blue Card EU, ICT/Mobile-ICT, or certain residence permits as a qualified professional, researcher, executive, entrepreneur, or other listed category.

These grounds include, in particular:

§18g AufenthG — Blue Card EU;
§§18a and 18b AufenthG — qualified employment as a Fachkraft;
§18c(3) AufenthG — highly qualified specialists;
§§18d and 18f AufenthG — researchers and academics;
certain cases under §19c AufenthG;
§21 AufenthG — entrepreneurship and self-employment.

This rule must be read literally: what matters is not simply having a good job, but the exact residence-permit provision and the date when that title was first issued. For parents-in-law, it is also important that the spouse lives permanently in Germany.

Even under this new option, the parents must be supported by the host side. That is why before applying, it is worth checking income, housing, insurance, and the list of required documents at the specific consulate in advance.

Which documents to prepare

The exact list depends on the consulate, the country of application, and the child’s residence basis in Germany. Usually, people collect in advance:

passports of the parents and the host party;
the child’s birth certificate confirming the relationship;
if necessary, documents on marriage, name changes, or adoption;
an apostille or legalization, if required for the specific country;
translations of documents into German;
proof of the child’s residence permit or citizenship in Germany;
proof of income, housing, and health insurance;
medical documents and proof that no adequate care is available locally, if the case is built on außergewöhnliche Härte.

For Russian citizens in 2026, one extra point matters: for entry to Germany and for new visa procedures, a non-biometric international passport generally no longer works unless it already contains a valid German visa or another recognized exception.

Alternative ways for parents to move

If family reunification is impossible or too risky, parents may consider independent residence grounds. They are not a way around the law: each basis must match the real purpose of the trip.

Language visa

A visa for studying German is suitable if the parent truly plans to attend an intensive course and can prove financing, housing, and insurance. This is a temporary option: after the course ends, a new lawful basis is required for further stay.

Pros:

a clear purpose for the trip;
a limited but real period of stay;
the opportunity to adapt and study the language.

Cons:

courses must actually be attended;
the family bears the costs;
a language visa does not automatically turn into a permanent residence permit.

Work, Chancenkarte, or job search

If the parent is still able to work and has qualifications, it may be possible to consider a Chancenkarte, a work visa, or another professional route. Recognition of qualifications, age, health, German language skills, salary, and the requirements of the specific profession are all important here.

Employment subject to social contributions may open access to the GKV system, but that is not an argument for fictitious employment. The job, salary, and duties must be real.

Marriage to a German citizen or resident

Marriage can be an independent basis for moving if the relationship is genuine and the couple meets the family reunification requirements. Using marriage as a formal scheme is risky: the authorities check whether the relationship is real, along with the documents, language, and means of support.

Visitor trip

A visitor visa or visa-free entry for citizens of countries that are allowed to use it is suitable only for short-term stays. Usually, this means 90 days within a 180-day period. Such entry does not replace a national visa for long-term residence.

Moving parents to a minor child

This is a separate situation: parents moving to a minor child in Germany. For the parents of a minor foreign child with a residence permit, or a child who is a German citizen, the rules are usually more lenient because the issue is parental custody, not parents joining an adult child.

§36(1) AufenthG provides for the issuance of a residence permit to the parents of a minor foreign child if there is no other parent in Germany who has custody rights. For a child who is a German citizen, the rules on family reunification with German citizens also apply.

For example, if a German-citizen child lives with one parent and the other parent is not in Germany or cannot exercise custody, that parent may be eligible for a residence permit in order to fulfill parental duties. The exact legal basis and documents are best checked in the specific case because family law, custody, and immigration law intersect here.

Brief conclusion

For an adult migrant in Germany, moving parents remains a difficult procedure. There are two main routes: classic reunification through außergewöhnliche Härte under §36 AufenthG, or the new rule for certain Fachkräfte and Blue Card EU holders who first received the relevant title on or after March 1, 2024.

Before applying, it is worth honestly checking three things: whether there is a legal basis, whether the family can bear the financial burden, and whether health insurance can actually be arranged. If even one of these points is unclear, it is better not to apply “just to try,” but to gather documents first and get a professional assessment for the specific case.